The Effects of Rapid Solidification on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al5083

In the present study, bulk refined-structured Al 5083 alloy with high mechanical properties was successfully fabricated by hot consolidation process of nanostructured melt- spun flakes. The influence of cooling rate and pressing conditions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy were investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), microhardness, and compression tests. Rapid solidification combined with the hot consolidation at T=753 K (480 °C) and P= 800 MPa for 20 min produced a bulk sample with the desirable bonding, good microhardness (184.2±12.4 HV), and high strength (273±8 MPa) combined with 7 pct. fracture strain. These amounts are 78.6±5.1 HV, 148 ±9 MPa and about 5 pct. for the as-cast sample. Microstructural refinement during the controlled consolidation of nanostructure rapidly- solidified flakes contributes to such high mechanical properties of the bulk sample.